Shadow

Today was just another day. Daisy and I got to spend it together.

We still miss you, sweet boy.  Daisy sleeps more and walks slower, but that doesn’t stop her from going for walks with Dad.  I picked up some medicine for her today and your picture is still there on the wall.  Your girl is getting married and your boy is far away in Buenos Aires.  The black grass I planted is starting to fill in the bare spots around your rock.

The dogs (and cats) and their people here have helped me alot.  I am very grateful to them.

I love you,

Mom

 

 

It has been a month.

He is not there on the pillow next to me when I wake up.  He isn’t worried I may forget breakfast.  He doesn’t get a drink from the bathtub faucet.  He is not the first dog out the door.  His face isn’t in the window barking when I pull up the driveway.  The toys no longer squeak and honk.  He doesn’t begin his dance and follow me wherever I go after 4 pm.  His cold nose no longer nudges me for dinner at 5 pm.  How did he know the time to the minute so well?  He isn’t the leader when we go for our walk around the neighborhood.  Daisy doesn’t bark at Duke when we go by.  His head isn’t on my lap in the evening.  I do not hear his moan as I rub his ears.

We miss him so.

It has been a mixed day for us. Shadow had his amputation surgery a month ago today. He was 11 years old, yet a good candidate for amputation. He had synovial cell sarcoma in his front left elbow.  He was a model patient and came through his surgery well.  His recovery progressed very well, without complications.  On the 12^th night everything suddenly changed and he died quietly and peacefully by our sides.  We did not have an autopsy done.  We just wanted to lay him to rest. Heart or respiratory failure, we will never know.  For those of you who have found yourselves suddenly thrown into this difficult predicament of to amputate or not, we want you to know we made the right decision for him. We had just hoped for so much more.

 

Spirit Shadow’s Pack

 

Eighteen hours have passed since Shadow left us last night.

We had spoken with his boy and girl earlier in the evening for the daily update of his recovery.  He had his best day since his amputation.  Normal behaviors.  He wanted a drink from the bathtub tap while I dried my hair.  Couldn’t get enough ear rubs.  Ate heartily.   While going outside, he heard his daddy pull up in the driveway,  stopped mid-way down the ramp, turned around in one hop and ran to the door before his sister was out of the sofa.

Around dusk it all changed.  He went outside with dry heaves.  He laid down on the ground.  He wouldn’t come in.  Finally his daddy carried him in.  Shadow was a creature of comfort, so he tried to hop onto the sofa and daddy helped.  He was restless and couldn’t get comfortable, finally he got down went over to where daddy was and laid down there so he could be petted.  Minutes later he was gone.  We were stunned.  What happened?  How?  Why?  Questions that will remain unanswered.  He died in peace surrounded by his loved ones.

His final resting place is in the backyard, soon to be covered by mommy’s special ornamental black grass.

While preparing Shadow’s special place I read the sad news about Diva, Boomer’s special celebration day,  London’s struggles (hang in there), Sophie’s progress and how tripawd hero, Darcy, lives on.   Living continues.  I know I will hear kind words from so many of you, people I have never met and did not know two weeks ago.  For that I am grateful.  Thank you.

I am in need of some Daisy loving.  She is good at that.  I will post a tribute to our dear Spirit Shadow at some time.  I will need to do that for myself.  Until then, I will be checking in because I know we need lots of pawsitive vibes for all of the tripawds out there.

Spirit Shadow’s mom, Heather

 

Shadow had his first check-up after his surgery yesterday.  He is doing super, fantastic well.  His bright yellow compression bandage has been replaced with a classic white bandage.  His dad built a ramp so he can go outside.  He is already hopping up and down the ramp all by himself.  We are so proud of him.  The cancer was just in his joint so that is not a concern anymore.

However

When he first visited the vet for his limping, a suspisous lump was found under his left shoulder. The lump was removed and the biopsy had “clean” edges.  Unfortunately, when his leg was amputated, there were swollen lymps nodes that we will now need to address.  Staying pawsitive.

Shadow’s mom, Heather

Shadow and Daisy’s Mom likes to write for them.

These sweethearts are litter-mates born July 17, 2000.  As you can see they love doing things together, especially going to the beach with their pawrents, girl and boy.  Last summer they enjoyed Hatteras.

Shadow began limping in January.  He would be ok for a few days, then the limp would come back.  We decided it was more than an injury to his paw or leg so off to his vet he went.  He loves it there.  He knows where they keep the treats for good patients.  He was diagnosed with probable synovial cell sarcoma in his front left elbow, so an orthopedic surgeon was called in to do a biopsy.  His biopsy was scheduled for March 21, however in the days prior it was obvious that the pain had intensified greatly.  The biopsy became an amputation.  Shadow is a trouper and his recovery these past four days has been very good.  His boy came home from college and his girl came back from her new home and we spent the weekend loving him.  He was happy to sleep with his boy.

We did not anticipate an amputation so quickly, so it was difficult at first.  It did not take long at all to realize that this would be best for Shadow.  I found Tripawds the night before his surgery and it has been a source of strenght, inspiration, and information for both of his pawrents.  Thank you Jerry, your pawrents and all the other dogs on this site.

Shadow’s Mom

 

 

 

 

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